Ricketts, Bruning Continue Ongoing Dispute in Governor's Race

Apr235:46 am

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - The Republican primary race for governor is heating up between Omaha businessman Pete Ricketts and Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning. Ricketts promised Tuesday to run a positive campaign, saying he wouldn't make "careless accusations" against other candidates in the six-man field. His announcement at the Capitol came in response to new, critical television ads by Bruning's campaign. Bruning has alleged that Ricketts' family and supporters are behind a series of anonymous, third-party attack ads against him, and that Ricketts is unwilling to attach his name to them. Ricketts says neither he nor his father, billionaire TD Ameritrade founder Joe Ricketts, are involved with the ads. The third-party ads have drawn the ire of some top Republicans, including Gov. Dave Heineman, who has said the people behind them should identify themselves.